So who are we and what do we do?

Elderfit was started by friends Gareth & Tom, who have worked together within the fitness industry for the past 15 years. Our aim is to improve the wellbeing of not only older people but all we have the pleasure of meeting.

Posted on 6th March 2016 in Elderfit

Elderfit was started by friends Gareth & Tom, who have worked together within the fitness industry for the past 15 years.

Our aim is to improve the wellbeing of not only older people but all we have the pleasure of meeting.

We have designed fitness sessions which can be carried out by everyone, specifically those with a history of falling. These sessions are designed to increase strength & balance, and reduce the risk of falling. We currently run sessions at community facilities as well as private care homes, and we are always amazed as to the capabilities of individuals. Our sessions don’t only improve strength & balance, but also add a major social element to people’s week, bringing them together for the same reason. This goes towards combating loneliness & isolation, especially in the elderly.

Cost of falls to the NHS is in the millions and always rising. We are passionate about reducing this figure, acting as primary care, preventing falls before they have happened. Strong evidence has proven that strength & balance sessions do reduce the risk of falling and improve wellbeing.

Elderfit story

2013 – Gareth was asked to do some exercise classes in the local Hindu centre, after taking these classes he realised the important nature of keeping active in your later years and decided to approach local care homes in regards to taking further classes based on Strength and Balance exercises.

2014 – Gareth has now established 8 regular care home classes much through word of mouth and is looking to branch out more classes around south wales so asks Tom to help out. Tom soon establishes 5 classes himself. They decide on the company name Elderfit

2015 – After a productive meeting with Cardiff third sector it is decided that Elderfit is to become a Community Interest company. In August 2015 it becomes official.

In 2015 Tom and Gareth network with public health wales, ageing well wales and meet with the Health minister of wales team after they heard about the good work of the Elderfit. These meetings were very productive as it opened up new avenues to branch the classes out into open access community classes.

2016 – After a successful lottery application Elderfit’s first community classes where set up in Whitchurch and Maes Y Coed. Two extra new sessions have also been funded by community first.

The classes continue to use the evidence based strength and balance exercise which show improvement over an 8 week period, the data is recorded via a sit to stand test and used to show individual’s the progress they have made.

Webpage goes live.

Future 2016 – Elderfit are working on a number of exciting projects that we hope will benefit local communities, people who may be considered lonely or vulnerable, have lack of mobility or transport.